Southern Blight on Creeping Jenny: Remove Plants, Invert Soil

Southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii) shows webby hyphae and brown sclerotia. Favors warm, humid, moist conditions. Remove dead plants + top 2 soil. Invert soil 6-8 deep to bury pathogen. No homeowner fungicide works. Imp

Feeding Camellias: Organic Fertilizers in Early April

Camellias need nutrients at spring growth (early April). Synthetic granules work but organic (Holly-tone, Milorganite, cottonseed meal, blood meal) release slowly, matching shallow roots needs. camellia

Keeping Fall Leaves in Beds: Cover with Pine Bark to Prevent Blowing

Leaves enrich soil but blow in wind. Rake into beds, top with thin pine bark chips to hold in place. Best of both worlds.

China Doll Plant Leaf Drop Indoors: Needs Light, Hard Prune in Spring

China doll (Radermachera sinica) drops leaves in low light. Maximize light now, move to semi-shade after mid-April. Cut stems to 12 inches, let new crown form. Tip back to keep compact for next winter.

Bucket Bathwater Causing Yellow Leaves: Overwatering, Stop in Winter

Yellow leaves likely from root rot due to excess winter watering. Established plants dont need supplemental water in winter. Stop bucket routine except for new evergreens.

Deer Eating 'Deer-Resistant' Plants: Prune Damaged Tips in Spring

Deer eat anything when hungry. Drought reduced wild browse. Prune gnawed branch tips back to a bud or larger branch in spring. Use electric fence for best protection. See deer-tolerant plant lists.

Cat's Claw Vine: Invasive, Destroy Immediately

Cats claw vine (Macfadyena unguis-cati) is horribly invasive in Gulf states. Grasping tendrils climb anything. Not winter-hardy in north Georgia, but destroy any plants you have to protect the environment. see PlantFiles

Glyphosate Drift on Tomatoes: Classic Symptoms, Fruit Safe If Plant Recovers

Yellowing at leaf bases = glyphosate drift. Tomatoes are hyper-sensitive (damage at 1/150th rate). Drift from 100 yards possible. Remove affected leaves; if new growth normal, fruit is safe to eat. See Glyphosate Damage

Crapemyrtle Branch Drop: Stop Topping, Keep Brushy Top

Topping causes weakly attached spring growth that breaks in rain. Prune to a brushy top with many small branches from multiple points, not a single cut.

Colonial-Era Trees in Georgia: Bonaventure Live Oaks, Dalton Liberty Tree

Few colonial trees remain. Live oaks at Bonaventure Cemetery (pre-Revolution). Daltons Liberty Tree from Annapolis seed. Georgia Urban Forest Council lists recent historic trees (gufc.org/registeredtrees).

Kerosene Heater Soot on Greenhouse Plants: Wash with Soap, Not Detergent

Use Ivory or castile soap (not detergent) in warm water. Wear cotton socks on hands, wipe leaves. Some leaf drop may occur, but healthy plants regrow.

Boric Acid Toxicity on Houseplants: Repot in Fresh Soil

Boron is toxic at 1 ppm. Boric acid is water-soluble—wash roots and repot in fresh mix. If decline continues, discard. Dinner out helps forgive gardening mistakes.

Removing Pines Benefits Oaks: Forest Succession in Action

Pines dont acidify soil. Removing them gives oaks more sun—natural forest succession (grasses → shrubs → pines → hardwoods). Oaks will thrive.

Growing Ginger and Turmeric: Plant Grocery Roots in May

Both need sun, loamy soil, summer moisture. Plant fresh grocery roots in early May; harvest flavorful roots in fall when flowers appear. They survive mild winters from roots.

Rain Barrel Freeze Protection: Drain Before Hard Freeze, No Safe Antifreeze

No plant-safe antifreeze exists. Drain barrel if a week of sub-25°F temps forecast. Otherwise, daytime thaws prevent freezing. Spring rains will refill it. I currently have a full rain barrel and a full 275 gallon water

School Garden Integration: Teacher Master Gardener Program

UGA Extension offers Teacher Master Gardener classes in metro Atlanta—horticulture basics plus curriculum integration ideas. Contact local Extension (1-800-ASKUGA-1).

Removing Pines Benefits Oaks: Forest Succession in Action

Pines dont acidify soil. Removing them gives oaks more sun—natural forest succession (grasses → shrubs → pines → hardwoods). Oaks will thrive.

Repotting into Decorative Pots Without Drainage: The Cachepot Method

Dont drill holes in decorative pots. Put gravel in the bottom, set the planted pot on top. Every 3 months, lift inner pot and dump excess water. Roots stay healthy; decor stays intact.

Tilling Rye Cover Crop: Mow 3 Weeks Before Planting

Mow rye at whatever height 3 weeks before seeding vegetables. Let dry 1 week, then till in. Decomposes fully by planting time, enriching soil.

'Nellie Stevens' Holly Freeze Damage: Protect Central Leader

Blackened spring tips = freeze damage. Dont prune this winter; hope for mild spring. To encourage central leader, tie a broomstick to trunk, gently pull a side branch vertical, secure with cloth strips. In two years it b